Gibson's Bar & Steakhouse continues to be a favorite for professional athletes and coaches, no matter how many new steakhouses keep popping up in the Chicago area. Of the 19 sports sightings listed below, nine took place at a Gibson's location:

The lineup for the third annual Windy City Smokeout taking place July 10-12 at Grand Avenue and the Chicago River is scheduled to include headliners Lee Brice, Chris Young and Pat Green, according to co-organizer and Joe’s Bar co-owner Ed Warm.

Ryan Kwanten attended the Chicago Wolves-Rockford IceHogs game Jan. 31 at the Allstate Arena for research purposes. The former “True Blood” actor plays an aspiring Wolves goalie in the new independent romantic comedy “Who Gets the Dog?” and wanted to take in the American Hockey League experience.

Picture this: It’s Valentine’s Day. You’re with that special someone. The dimly lit room is decorated with candles. The two of you are holding hands even though you’re usually not one for P.D.A. Who cares? It feels right. And besides, it’s just you, your sweetheart and that psychopath with a teddy bear mask and bloody chainsaw who is hiding in the shadows.

There must be something special about Tortoise Club’s decor or layout because NBC’s “Chicago P.D.” recently became the second TV show to film at the Near North neighborhood restaurant in three months. Here’s that celebrity sighting and a few more from around the Chicago area:

You can thank Danielle Forte for husband Matt Forte’s fashion sense. She said the Bears’ running back was wearing loose sweatshirts and sweatpants before she turned him on to suits and designer clothing. Now Danielle is hoping to have a similar influence on maternity clothing with Danielle Forte Collection.

“The Late Late Show” fill-in host Adam Pally and sidekick Ben Schwartz interviewed the Bears’ Martellus Bennett on Friday’s episode and asked the colorful tight end for his thoughts on Best Picture-contender “Boyhood” during the wide-ranging conversation.

I predicted on Twitter that the first restaurant new Bears’ coach John Fox would hit in Chicago would either be Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, Chicago Cut Steakhouse or Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse-Chicago. Was I right? I don't know for sure, but Fox has hit two of those restaurants already. Here’s that Fox sighting and a couple more from the Chicago area:

When “Project Almanac” wanted to shoot on location at Lollapalooza in 2013, the found-footage film — which revolves around a group of high school students who time-travel to various locations, including the Grant Park music festival — turned to Chicago music promoters Jeff McClusky & Associates to persuade fest organizers C3 Presents.

Kylie Jenner was in the process of answering my first question about working with sister Kendall Jenner on various business ventures Friday outside Sugar Factory in Rosemont when she momentarily stopped our red carpet interview due to the crowd of mostly teenagers feverishly chanting “Kylie.”

Not all Bears players have skipped town since the team’s disappointing season came to an end last month. There are still some players in the Chicago area, including Matt Forte. Here’s where the Bears’ running back was spotted this week, as well as other recent sports sightings in the Chicago area:

Every once in a while you’ll see a famous face in the crowd at a Bulls game. There were two on hand last week that I know of. And if the Bulls can make a run at the NBA title as some are predicting, it’s safe to assume there will be a lot more. Here are those Bulls game sightings and a couple more from around the Chicago area:

Jake “The Snake” Roberts has a story from circa 1991 involving fellow wrestling legend The Undertaker, a Houston strip club and an accident involving his pet snake. Roberts was hesitant to tell it over the phone because he wasn’t sure if it was appropriate, and also he planned on sharing the story Thursday during his one-man shows at the WIP Theater in the Edison Park neighborhood.

It’s hard to interview Kevin Costner without bringing up baseball. The soon-to-be 60 year old actor has appeared in classic baseball films such as “Field of Dreams” (I get a lump in my throat just mentioning that movie) and “Bull Durham” and the not as classic-y “For Love of the Game”

“Parks and Recreation” kicks off its seventh and final season with back-to-back episodes Tuesday, the second of which filmed, in part, in Chicago and involves Andy Dwyer and Tom Haverford looking for the latter’s ex-girlfriend.

You’d think I would hear about Derrick Rose sightings around town more often. The former NBA MVP is the most recognizable athlete in Chicago along with the Bears’ Jay Cutler and Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane. Rose, however, manages to keep a low profile. I get a Rose sighting in my inbox or in my text messages about every month or every other month, whereas I receive a Pau Gasol sighting almost every other week. Here’s my first Rose sighting of the year as well as a few other sports sightings:

Famous people will visit Chicago in 2015. I know it’s not as bold of a prediction as some of the ones you’re used to reading around this time of year, but I figured I’d remind you why you should note some of the new (or remodeled) establishments opening around town this year. Bold names like “new,” and they are sure to flock to some of the trendier spots opening in 2015. Here’s a look those new spots — as well as the new events and projects — that will bring celebs to town:

Let's be honest, ticketed New Year’s Eve parties tend to offer the same exact things. You can usually count on an open bar, a buffet, champagne, party favors and lots of bros in vests. It can be hard to choose which party to go to because, really, it's hard to tell the difference between many of them.

Comedian Chris Rock has been all over the place promoting his recently released film “Top Five,” including Chicago. Rock met with radio station contest winners while he was here and, it appears, revealed his Chicago pizza allegiance. Here’s that sighting and many more.

Jon Lester didn’t wait long to get his hands on some deep dish pizza. The two-time World Series champion agreed to sign with the Cubs late Tuesday night and was already eating deep dish pizza in Chicago on Thursday. Here’s that sighting and many more:

The same question gets asked every July after the Emmy award nominations get announced: “Why does ‘Shameless’ continue to get overlooked?” Fans ask it. TV critics ask it. “Shameless” cast members ask it.

David Otunga doesn’t think he’s funny. The typically confident Harvard Law graduate-turned-reality-TV-star-turned WWE Superstar made this observation three times during our conversation about his new stand-up comedy venture.

It was announced on Friday that Sam Smith was tied for for the most nominations at the 57th annual Grammys (with Beyonce, no less). On Saturday, the 22-year-old British singer had brunch in River North – hopefully after a night of celebrating. He deserves it. Here’s that sighting and a few more from around the Chicago area:

There will be a local celebrity cameo every night when Second City’s “Twist your Dickens, or Scrooge You!” – an interactive parody of “A Christmas Carol” -- kicks off its run Friday in Goodman Theatre’s Owen Theatre. The show isn’t announcing when each local celeb will appear or what their exact roles will be, but a Goodman spokesperson did reveal some of the names taking part.

White Sox legend Frank Thomas recently took a break from Big Hurt Brewhouse, his newly opened sports bar in Berwyn, to visit another sports bar named after a famous baseball personality. Here’s that sports sighting and a few more:

When some of you go home for Thanksgiving, you end up hanging out by the bar at Chili’s or at that one dive where you run into all the kids from your high school who never left town. When “New Girl” actor and Glen Ellyn native Lamorne Morris goes home for Thanksgiving, he hangs out at the trendiest spots in Chicago. Lucky guy. Here’s where Morris and other celebs were spotted last week:

Sabrina Carpenter got the impression that she was waving to a whole bunch of people who had no idea who she was when she took part in the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival parade in Garden Grove, Calif., in 2013. It was her first parade, and her Disney Channel show, “Girl Meets World” — a spinoff of ABC's “Boy Meets World” — was still more than a year away from premiering.

Most of the sightings I hear about take place in venues in the city. Let’s start off with a sighting from the suburbs (my only recent sports sighting from the burbs) before getting to all of the city sightings:

Mick Foley didn’t attend “Dee Snider’s Rock and Roll Christmas Tale” Wednesday at the Broadway Playhouse because he happened to have two comedy shows booked in Illinois this week. The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion and New York Times best-selling author booked those two shows in Illinois because he happened to be coming to the area for “Christmas Tale.”

Jennifer Hudson gets the question all the time: “Why don't you live in LA?” We've become so accustomed to celebrities moving out to LA once they hit it big that it seems odd that Hudson — a supporting actress Oscar winner for her role in 2006's “Dreamgirls” and R&B album Grammy winner for her 2008 self-titled debut — has opted to remain in the Chicago area.

Lee DeWyze made the album he had been wanting to make when he released “Frames” in 2013 on Vanguard Records. “Frames” was DeWyze’s follow-up to 2010’s “Live It Up” and his first album since being dropped from RCA in 2011. Now the Mount Prospect native and winner of the ninth season of Fox’s “American Idol” is working on his next album with the same amount of creative freedom, but a slightly different sound.

Down the street from where the superhero-studded “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” filmed in the Uptown neighborhood Wednesday, the Bridgeview Bank LED sign on the corner of Broadway Street and Lawrence Avenue read “Bridgeview Bank is Chicago’s small business superhero!”

Pau Gasol has already become a fixture on Chicago’s nightlife scene in the little time he’s been with the Bulls. It feels like there is a new Gasol sighting in my inbox every week. The two-time NBA champion and four-time All-Star is constantly hitting the city’s trendiest restaurants.

Ryan Seacrest remembers when his dad turned 40. His dad's friends put a sign up outside of his home that read “Over the Hill.” It was at that moment, Seacrest recalls, that he said to himself, “Oh my God, he's really old now.” Next month, Seacrest — host of “American Idol” and the syndicated “On Air with Ryan Seacrest” radio show — will join his dad in this “Over the Hill” club.

There’s no need to ask Shannon whether he likes film or the theater more. The Oscar-nominated actor will tell you he prefers theater without being prompted — no wavering, no politically correct answer — even though he realizes most others prefer film. He also realizes that it’s because of film that more people came to see him do theater last year in A Red Orchid Theatre’s “Simpatico.”

Joe Maddon was officially introduced as the new Cubs manager Monday during a press conference at Cubby Bear in Wrigleyville. Maybe you heard about that? To celebrate, Maddon and his wife had dinner with friends at Chicago Cut Steakhouse later that day.

You wouldn’t know “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” was filming in the Yorkville area just from passing by the set Monday. Other than a “Metropolis Metrocab” taxi and a vehicle covered in a tarp (hmmm), it looked like any other film shoot from afar.

Henry Cavill – who played Superman and his alter ego Clark Kent in 2013’s “Man of Steel” and will reprise his role in the highly anticipated “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” – was spotted hanging out Saturday at The Underground and Paris Club Bistro & Bar's upstairs club, Studio Paris. He was seen having brunch Sunday at Yolk in Streeterville. Cavill is scheduled to film “Batman v. Superman” in the Chicago area Monday through Nov.14, according to Chicago Film Office director Rich Moskal.

Macy’s picks a celebrity to light the Christmas tree located inside the State Street department store’s Walnut Room every year. Past celebrity guests include Billy Crystal, Bill Cosby, Martha Stewart and Nick Cannon. The famous button pusher scheduled for this year’s tree lighting on Nov. 8 is (*over-dramatic pause*) coming up after this break.

WWE Superstar and former “Real World” cast member Mike “The Miz” Mizanin will appear on an episode of USA Network’s “Sirens” this upcoming season and is scheduled to film his scene Thursday in Chicago, according to a USA Network spokesperson.

Brandon Marshall and Harry Caray’s 7th Inning Stretch in Water Tower Place will host a Thanksgiving dinner for Maryville Academy children Nov. 24. Maryville Academy, which is celebrating its 130th anniversary, serves troubled youth struggling with a variety of issues, including mental health.

Kerry Wood hosted the country-themed Woody’s Western Roundup fundraiser last Wednesday at Joe’s Bar, which included a performance by country singer Chris Young. Why the country theme? Because Wood is from Texas and Joe’s is a country bar, according to Wood’s wife Sarah Wood.

The Bears’ Martellus Bennett plans to release his first animated short film, “Zoovie,” next year. The story revolves around an ambitious penguin named Cosmo who aspires to do more than just perform at the zoo. If it sounds like a metaphor for Bennett’s life, that’s because it is. Bennett – who has the third most receiving yards among all NFL tight ends, in addition to four touchdowns -- has many aspirations outside of football.

The Dick Wolf-produced NBC dramas “Chicago PD” “Chicago Fire” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” are teaming up for a three-episode crossover storyline this season, as some of you already know. Filming on the crossover has begun, with the “PD” portion of the shoot taking place this week in Chicago.

We’re going to see more of Christina Milian in the next couple of months. The singer/actress is starring in an upcoming reality show for E! called “Christina Milian Turned Up” and she has a new album on the way (Milian signed with Young Money in 2012), not to mention she’s making headlines for her rumored relationship with rapper and Young Money founder Lil Wayne.

“Insurgent” – the sequel to “Divergent,” based on the young adult books by Northwestern alum Veronica Roth – filmed along the Chicago River Saturday morning. During the shoot, a low-flying helicopter swooped down toward the Chicago River around Dearborn Street before eventually rising up again around Columbus Drive. Chicago River bridges were raised along that stretch in order to make the shoot possible.

An employee at The Massacre haunted house in Montgomery was charged with battery and disorderly conduct Saturday. A Montgomery police spokesperson said it received a complaint that Robert Keller, 23, of Algonquin made inappropriate comments toward guests and touched a teenage girl inappropriately with a neck massager.

The Tie Bar is launching its first pop-up shop Friday at 918 West Armitage Avenue in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. And to celebrate, “Modern Family” star and Tie Bar collaborator Jesse Tyler Ferguson is scheduled to attend a private party Oct. 23 at the pop-up shop.

Robert Pattinson was in the Chicago area over the weekend, fueling speculation that the "Twilight" star might film part of the movie "Idol's Eye" here. Pattinson hung out Friday at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park (click here for photos) and had lunch Saturday at L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge in Lincolnwood.

It’s not ideal for an athlete to host a charity event the day after a tough loss. It can affect the mood, the amount of interaction the athlete has with guests in attendance and the questions the media asks at the fundraiser. Trust me, I’ve seen it.

Nas screened his documentary, “Nas: Time is Illmatic” and performed songs from the “Illmatic” album Friday at The Venue at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond Ind. For those who didn’t get their Nas fill that night, there was a Hennessy V.S.-sponsored after party at The Underground. And yes, Nas showed up (it’s never a given with after parties).

Customers at Protein Bar may do a double take when they see that the healthy fast food chain has teamed up with Brandon Marshall to sell a blended drink called Crazy Stigma Green. I know I did. And according to Marshall, who was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in 2011 and has dedicated himself to raising awareness for mental health causes, that was the point.

Media was invited last month to meet with the casts of NBC’s “Chicago Fire” and “Chicago PD” at Cinespace Film Studios on the Near West Side and take a bus tour of some filming locations. The six-hour experience was informative and included stops at the fire station, police department, hospital and bar (Lottie’s Pub) seen on the shows.

There’s a scene in the first “Treehouse of Horror” episode on “The Simpsons” where Bart shrugs off Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” and tells Lisa “that wasn’t scary, not even for a poem.” Lisa defends the classic tale by pointing out, “Well, it was written in 1845, maybe people were easier to scare back then.”

Full disclosure: Kelli Zink is a friend of mine. We’re so close that I invite her to my annual WWE Royal Rumble party to watch pro wrestling with my dorky friends. Not only has she come by twice and taken part in our Royal Rumble pool -- which may or may not involve the winner wearing a replica championship belt -- but she made cookies last year. Awesome cookies.

Colin Farrell is expected to be on hand when his film, “Miss Julie,” kicks off the 50th Chicago International Film Festival Thursday at the Harris Theater. Liv Ullmann -- who directed the film -- is also scheduled to attend.

Taylor Kinney and Jesse Spencer didn’t follow hockey closely until they began filming NBC’s “Chicago Fire” in Chicago in 2012. Now the two actors are Blackhawks fans, attending games on occasion and hanging out with the players.

Robert Earnshaw is a hat connoisseur and is constantly buying new ones. The Fire forward has become so knowledgeable about hats in recent years, he believes he can make them better than the professionals. That’s why he deciced to launch his own line of designer baseball caps: Blaq Zinq.

Rob Zombie expects some backlash for the John Wayne Gacy-inspired room in his Great American Nightmare haunted house at the Odeum Expo Center in Villa Park. The space brings guests into Gacy’s living room and features an actor in Gacy’s infamous clown costume and makeup sitting on a recliner blowing up balloons, as two dolls dressed as Boy Scouts look on from a couch.

Nick Carter and Jordan Knight found a way to capitalize on our obsession with brunch. The two pop stars hosted a brunch for fans at The Pump Room in the Public Chicago hotel Saturday while in town to perform House of Blues.

Miguel Herrera didn’t know much, if anything, about Harry Caray when he visited Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse Chicago Sunday, according to a restaurant spokesperson. And why would he? The enthusiastic Mexican men's national team manager has spent his playing and coaching career in Mexico.

“Idol’s Eye” – which stars Robert Pattinson (“Twilight”) and Robert De Niro (“Silver Linings Playbook”) -- is scheduled to film in Toronto Oct. 22-Dec. 22, according to a spokesperson for the Toronto Film, Television and Digital Media Office.

During the superlatives bit on “The Tonight Show,” host Jimmy Fallon cracks yearbook-inspired “Most likely to…” jokes based on a person’s head shot. The bit focused on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” match-up this week, which meant the butt of the jokes were Bears and San Francisco 49ers players.

Michael Che – who is taking over for Chicago’s own Cecily Strong as a “Weekend Update” co-anchor on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” according to the New York Times – will perform Nov. 7 and 8 at Zanies Comedy Club in Rosemont. Che is a former "SNL" writer and correspondent on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” and will co-anchor "Update" with “SNL” head writer Colin Jost.

Patrick Kane and LeBron James seemed destined to work together in some capacity. Besides the fact that they’re two of the biggest and most marketable superstars in the NHL and NBA, respectively, Kane and James have shown mutual admiration for each other over Twitter and in interviews.

If you get tired of hearing about other people’s fantasy football teams, just imagine how Kristin Cavallari feels. The TV personality and wife of Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has to constantly endure fantasy football talk from random strangers. Cavallari, however, seems to be a good sport about the whole thing.

Fire assistant coach Clint Mathis didn't want to talk soccer with Garth Brooks when he met the country singer backstage before his concert Friday at the Allstate Arena, which is a good thing because it sounds like Brooks isn't exactly a soccer expert.

Michelle Williams was searching for CNN on the TV Friday afternoon in her suite at the Hard Rock Hotel, more than 20 floors up from where she hosted her album release party the previous night. The 34-year-old singer and Rockford native wanted to check in on a news story that had just broken before leaving the room. It turns out Williams is a self-proclaimed “newsie.” She talks of news in the same manner some might talk about gossip, relaying the juicy details and her theories on what transpired.

Supermodel Kate Upton and the Detroit Tigers’ Justin Verlander went out for a nice dinner in Chicago the night before news spread that they were one of many celebrities who had their nude photos hacked and leaked online.

One weight loss reality show isn’t enough for NBC, so the network is adding a second to its lineup. “Weight for Love” will feature couples (married, engaged, long term) who need to lose at least 100lbs. And unlike NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” “Weight for Love” isn’t a competition.

Jarrett Payton noticed something different about his dad – Bears legend Walter Payton -- as he escorted WWF Superstar Razor Ramon to the ring in 1994 for his Summer Slam match at the United Center: His arms were enormous.

The original plan was for Big Hurt Brewhouse – co-owned by White Sox legend and recent Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Frank Thomas – to open in Berwyn in late 2013 or early 2014. Now the goal is to be open for the Bears’ home opener Sept. 7, according to Big Hurt Brewhouse’s tweet last month, but even that seems to be in doubt.

Now seems like as good of a time as any for GQ to release a list of “The 25 biggest sleazeballs in sports.” There has been an unusually high number of repulsive sports figures in the news lately who we wish would just go away, or at least stop being such low lifes.

There were servers walking around the 15th anniversary party for Mrskin.com Friday at the Chop Shop in Wicker Park with trays of mini-cupcakes. My friend grabbed one with vanilla frosting and I grabbed one with chocolate frosting. Right when I was about to eat the under sized dessert in one bite, my friend pointed out a detail I had completely missed: The frosting was in the shape of a pair of breasts.

Prince Royce could do nothing but smile while security tried to peel off an over aggressive fan who was holding onto him for dear life Thursday at his meet-and-greet. The 25-year-old bachata singer and New York native kept his cool — and most importantly, his balance — at the Rosemont Theatre as she clung onto him and bounced up and down and side to side shrieking, “I love you.” Security was patient with the weeping fan. She was only a teenager, after all. But they clearly didn’t want this to be a recurring theme. When the next fan in line began to sprint toward Royce as he adjusted his shirt, security intervened this time to slow her down.

Before you ask why the guy who starred in “Sex Tape” and went full frontal in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” wrote a children’s book, let me remind you that Jason Segel also wrote and starred in “The Muppets” and lent his voice to “Despicable Me.” Really, it’s not that far-fetched. And besides, if Sarah Silverman can voice one of the main characters in a kid’s movie (“Wreck-It Ralph”), anything is possible in children’s entertainment.

Are you a professional chef with several years of experience in the restaurant industry? Then Fox’s “MasterChef” doesn’t want you. Sorry. The culinary competition hosted by Gordon Ramsay is looking for amateur and home cooks only.

Steve Kopelman said the Chicago area has really good haunted houses, but the haunted house producer and designer -- who has worked in the industry for over 30 years -- can't help but feel that the area is missing that one great one. He hopes to fill what he perceives to be a void this year with Rob Zombie’s Great American Nightmare.

Katy Perry wasn’t sure what to do in Chicago with her free time other than museums. She asked for suggestions backstage at the sold-out United Center as the crowd waited anxiously for the “Firework” singer to take the stage.

“Divergent” director Neil Burger and his crew were tasked with turning Chicago into a post-apocalyptic city while filming in the city last year. Sounds simple enough. Dirty up the buildings, bust a few windows, knock over a bench or two, bing, bang, boom, right?

I met Sam Smith about a quarter to midnight Wednesday in a dark-ish alley directly underneath the Red Line track. Smith performed at The Vic a half hour earlier as part of the Vevo Lift Live concert and had just taken part in a meet-and-greet backstage, where it was said to be so hot that the location of our interview was moved outside.

“Sinister 2” needs kids and teenagers to serve as extras when the sequel begins filming in the Chicago area next month. Joan Philo Casting is looking for 7-18 years old of all shapes and sizes and an overweight male 12-15 years old, according to Facebook.com/Sinister2Extras.

When Beyonce was in Chicago in December, the R&B mega star dined at the vegan-friendly Karyn’s Cooked because she and rapper Jay-Zwere taking part in a 22-day vegan diet at the time. The A-list couple have since gone back to their meat-eating ways, opting for Chicago Cut Steakhouse Wednesday during their current visit to Chicago.

There are two questions I often overhear passersby ask security when a movie or TV series is filming in Chicago: “What are they filming?” and “How can I be an extra?” Security will usually answer the first question (or at least give the film’s code name, if the director is the secretive type), but the second question is a bit trickier to answer. You can’t just show up to the set hoping someone will hire you for a job as if it were a Home Depot parking lot. There’s a process to casting extras that involves casting agencies, registration and scheduling.

The sequel to the 2012 surprise hit “Sinister” will film entirely in the Chicago area for one month beginning in August, according to a spokesman for Blumhouse Productions, the studio behind the horror film.

Rob Riggle doesn’t want Drake to make the same mistake he made when the “Started From The Bottom” rapper hosts the 2014 ESPYs Wednesday at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Riggle – known for his roles in “Step Brothers” and “21 Jump Street” – hosted ESPN’s annual awards show in 2012 and has been kicking himself for not taking more photos with the sports stars in attendance, including the New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees.

Imagine you see former Cub Ryan Dempster leaving a restaurant in Chicago. He’s wearing the hard-to-miss World Series ring he won with the Boston Red Sox last year and, like so many people would, you want to take a photo with it. It feels like just about everyone in this city has a photo with the Stanley Cup trophy, but a picture with a World Series ring? You’ll be the envy of your Facebook friends. And isn’t that why you take these sorts of pictures? The valet hands Dempster the keys to what is most likely an impressive car (there’s a reason the semi-retired Dempster was able to walk away from the $13.25 million he would have made pitching for the Red Sox this season), and now you need to make a decision. You’re not sure you’ll have this opportunity again.

The small town of Paris, Ill., is the birthplace of Carl Switzer, the late actor who played the iconic Alfalfa in the “Little Rascals” series, and Brett Eldredge, the country music singer whose singles “Don’t Ya” and “Beat of the Music” reached No. 1 on the country airplay chart. Only one of the two, however, has his name plastered on signs welcoming visitors to Paris, about 180 miles south of Chicago and home to about 9,000 residents.

Dutch DJ and producer Afrojack pegged the crowd at 3,000 for Jennifer Lopez's June 20 performance on “Good Morning America” in New York. Afrojack, who collaborated with Pitbull, Ne-Yo and Nayer on the 2011 hit “Give Me Everything,” mentioned the number as a point of comparison for his performance with Sting on the ABC morning show Friday, which he said drew 2,900.

It’s one thing for a rapper to feature up-and-coming artists from their city on their songs. It’s another to put these artists on the cover of their album. That’s what Common did in the cover art for his upcoming album, “Nobody’s Smiling.”

Trey Songz liked The Underground so much on Saturday, the R&B singer came back to the Near North club on Sunday – this time with R. Kelly and J. Cole. The three artists performed at 107.5 FM WGCI’s Summer Jam concert Sunday at the United Center.

There were about 15 teenagers on what looked like a field trip earlier this month at the John Hancock Center, and not one of them seemed to recognize “Transformers: Age of Extinction” co-stars Nicola Peltz and Jack Reynor.

Don’t ask singer Sean Van Vleet what David Letterman said to him when his indie rock band Empires performed on CBS’s “Late Show” Tuesday. The Des Plaines native and Pilsen neighborhood resident doesn’t remember.

Reggie’s employee Brendan Joyce was asked to try a slider made up of various pig body parts as a guest judge on the series premiere of Spike TV’s “Frankenfood.” To say Joyce -- who organizes the menu and books the musical acts at the South Loop restaurant, bar and concert venue – disliked the sliders would be an understatement.

There are the Tegan and Sara fans who have been listening to the Canadian twins since they debuted with a folksy sound in 1999. And then there are those who became fans in the last year or two thanks to Tegan and Sara’s radio-friendly dance hit “Closer” and their catchy theme song with The Lonely Island for “The Lego Movie,” “Everything Iis Awesome.”

Calling all cooks – and I mean all cooks: ABC’s “The Taste” is inviting restaurateurs, executive chefs, sous chefs, line cooks, culinary students or home cooks to audition for the Anthony Bourdain-hosted reality show.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news for One Direction fans, but the immensely popular British boy band won't be around forever. History has taught us that solo aspirations or in-fighting among band members will likely do in the quintet within the next two to three years (five, if they're lucky), just like they've done in nearly every pop band that came before them. Many of us can see the Harry Styles solo album coming from a mile away. And when that day comes and One Direction is no more — which hopefully happens later rather than sooner, for the sake of millions of teenagers — don't be surprised if the Backstreet Boys are still going strong.

Dave Navarro revealed the winner of Spike TV’s “Ink Master” at the end of Tuesday’s live finale, but not before dragging out the announcement with overly dramatic pauses, as is now mandatory during reality TV competitions. Walter “Sausage” Frank patted Glenbard North High School alum and fellow finalist Scott Marshall on the back and then laughed as the big reveal was happening. Marshall didn’t crack a smile. He looked tense and almost soldier-like in his posture, except when the Jane’s Addiction guitarist announced him as the winner.

There could be another mob movie filming in Chicago this fall. But before you roll your eyes, this one is supposedly based on a true story of a robbery gone wrong and stars “Twilight” idol Robert Pattinson.

There was a $40 cover charge at Enclave in 2009 the night Doug Reinhardt — then-boyfriend of reality TV star Paris Hilton — made a scheduled appearance at the club. People paid it, mostly because they were hoping Hilton would join him, which she did. Once the couple and their entourage arrived, patrons stood shoulder-to-shoulder in front of the elevated VIP section to get a glimpse or photo of Hilton as she danced with Reinhardt and briefly spoke on the mic.

During his early show Wednesday at the Chicago Theatre, comedian Aziz Ansari asked audience members who had recently exchanged numbers with someone to show him their texts with this person. The "Parks and Recreation" star has always seemed to be at his best when he's interacting with the crowd.

When we last saw Tribune Tower in 2011’s “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” there was a Decepticon ship crashing into the building’s steeple. Tribune Tower makes another appearance in the upcoming “Transformers: Age of Extinction" (1:39 mark), which takes place four years after Chicago was destroyed in the last film. And judging from the trailer released this week, Tribune Tower suffers a similar fate this time around.

Are you a polite and down to earth Hispanic male who gets along with everyone and is respectful toward the LGBT community and people with disabilities? Then please try out for “The Bachelor” and make Hispanic men look better than Juan Pablo and his high horse did last season.

You’ve heard about how NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” has changed the lives of many of its contestants. Many have lost a substantial amount of weight and kept if off, regaining their happiness in the process. In the case of former “Biggest Loser” winner and Wheeling native Danni Allen, she opened One 2 One yoga studio in Evanston. But this story isn’t about the contestants. It’s about how the tear-jerker reality show changed the life of one of its trainers.

The first episode of Oxygen’s “Bad Girls Club: Chicago” — which airs at 7 p.m. Tuesday and features seven troubled young women living together under one roof in a mansion in Highland Park — kicks off with an exchange between cast member Linsey Jade and one of the show’s producers that will either make you a laugh or shake your head in disgust. So in other words, it’ll get the same reaction the long-running guilty pleasure series has been getting for years.

Windy City Smokeout stands out from other street festivals – and not just because it features impecably clean Porta-Potties. The three day festival takes place July 11-13 at the intersection of Grand Avenue and the Chicago River and is the only major street fest held downtown featuring well-known country music acts and BBQ restaurants.

Deb Glenn has a wall dedicated to her famous son — Tyler Glenn, lead singer of new wave pop band Neon Trees — inside her home in the San Diego area. The space is decorated with fan art, rare posters, a platinum plaque for the band’s single, “Animal,” and a 2011 “Top Alternative Song” Billboard Music Award for “Animal.”

Seth Meyers broke out a Chicago accent during his monologue on Thursday’s episode of “Late Night with Seth Meyers” when joking about the city’s ban on plastic grocery bags. The former Northwestern University and iO alum lengthened his A’s during the impersonation (“plaaastic”) and stretched out the sides of his mouth for emphasis. Asked about his inspiration for the accent, Meyers credited his writing staff.

The sequel to “Magic Mike” now has a name (‘Magic Mike XXL”), director (Gregory Jacobs) and release date (July 3, 2015), but it remains to be seen if it will have former World Wrestling Entertainment Superstar Kevin Nash back in the role of Tarzan.

Tony Todd is the reason many couldn't sleep at night or had nightmares in the '90s, and it's comic conventions such as C2E2 that allow these people to finally meet the “Candyman” and “Final Destination” star and say, well, thanks.

You normally wouldn't expect to see too many jocks at a comic book convention. But with the Bears' Lance Briggs and Israel Idonije each launching comic books in recent years, it was only a matter of time before their teammates became at least a little bit curious about comic culture.

The May issue of Maxim features five covers with five different models, all in patriotic swimwear in honor of the issue’s “Tribute to the Troops” theme. But only one of the models — WLUP-FM 97.9 spokesmodel Shannon Ihrke (aka the Loop Rock Girl) — actually served in the military.

Ghost tours are supposed to be scary. Like a good horror movie, they should keep you slightly on edge and give you chills down your back. The stories about the supernatural occurrences that may or may not have taken place should keep you up at night and make you contemplate sleeping with the lights on.

The weekly “Improvised Double Dare” show at ComedySportz Theatre will be serving up a heaping pile of nostalgia Sunday, along with whatever messy concoction they decide to spill on the house improvisors.

Kid Rock and Jeff Garlin have very little in common. Garlin said so himself. The only reason the hard-partying Detroit-area rocker and boisterous Chicago-area actor and comedian crossed paths was Garlin was asked to accompany Rock to Wrigley Field in 2003. Mr. “Bawitdaba” was scheduled to sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” made famous by late Cubs announcer, who sang it at every home game. Garlin was a seventh-inning stretch veteran and, well, Rock wasn’t.

The NSFW trailer above is for the upcoming season of Oxygen’s "Bad Girls Club: Chicago" – or as I like to call it, “Bad Girls Club: Highland Park.” It features seven women with strong personalities living together for three months in a mansion, surprisingly located in the affluent and somewhat haughty North Shore suburb of Highland Park.

Viewers of The CW’s “Supernatural” will be introduced to a new cast of characters and new setting in the April 29 episode of the monster-hunting series. And if the network likes what it sees, these characters (including rival mob families made up of monsters) and the setting (Chicago) will return for a spinoff called “Supernatural: Bloodlines.”

The “Man of Steel” sequel known to fans as Batman vs. Superman is tentatively scheduled to film just outside of Yorkville on Route 126 in the fall, according to Illinois Film Office director Betsy Steinberg. The untitled movie stars Henry Cavill as Superman and Ben Affleck as Batman.

Before heading to the Blackhawks-St. Louis Blues game Wednesday at the United Center and watching teammate Charles Tillman take part in Shoot the Puck, the Bears’ Jay Cutler had dinner with friends at Chicago Cut Steakhouse. On one side of Cutler's table was WWE Superstar David Otunga and on the other side was Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

When it came time to arrange her housing situation at Columbia University in New York, Katie Chang — who co-starred with Emma Watson in 2013’s “The Bling Ring” and co-starred with Sir Ben Kingsley in the upcoming “A Birder’s Guide To Everything” — opted to search for a roommate online rather than get paired off at random.

“Barbershop” and “Soul Food” producer Robert Teitel revealed to the audience at the 11th annual Creative Chicago Expo at the Chicago Cultural Center on Saturday the list of Chicago-based projects he is trying to get off the ground, including “Barbershop 3,” “Disco Sucks,” based on the infamous Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park in 1979, and “Guru,” which revolves around late Second City teacher and iO co-founder Del Close.

There’s a reason the voice singing the song at the beginning and end of Sunday’s “The Walking Dead” episode sounded so familiar. The folk rock tune, “Blackbird Song,” is by former “American Idol” winner Lee DeWyze.

Gabourey Sidibe will join fellow Oscar nominated actors Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson in Lee Daniels' upcoming pilot for Fox, “Empire,” according to the Hollywood Reporter. The series will begin filming in Chicago this month but will be set in New York.

Following her recurring roles on NBC's “Chuck” and The CW's “Supernatural” and “The Vampire Diaries,” Lauren Cohan decided to leave Los Angeles and move back to England. Cohan — who was born in Philadelphia and raised in New Jersey before moving to England when she was 13 — missed her family, the culture and the theater scene.

The CW announced last week that long running drama “Supernatural” may get a spinoff. And unlike the original, which follows brothers Dean and Sam Winchester as they hunt ghosts and monsters all over the country, the potential spinoff, “Supernatural: Bloodlines,” would take place in Chicago.

You love Aaron Paul. Drake loves Aaron Paul. The critics love Aaron Paul. But there was no guarantee the hostile, sold-out crowd of 18,000-plus at WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” at Allstate Arena on March 3 would love Aaron Paul.

Shailene Woodley is known for her “alternative” lifestyle, which she said is based on indigenous cultures. The aspiring herbalist — who plays the rebellious protagonist, Tris, in the post-apocalyptic film “Divergent,” which hits theaters March 21 — has said during interviews that she makes her own medicine and cheese and collects spring water from the mountains once a month.

Pro wrestler Colt Cabana pretends to hurt people for a living. The 33-year-old Deerfield native has been doing it for 15 years, briefly in WWE but mostly on the independent scene. But the punch he delivered to actor Michael Cera’s groin in late January while filming a Comedy Central pilot starring Chris Gethard? That wasn’t pretend — just an accident.

There were bottles of Champagne waiting for Cubs players in the basement of Stanley’s Kitchen & Tap at Lincoln and Armitage avenues when they were five outs away from advancing to the 2003 World Series, Donnie Kruse recalls. The co-owner of Stanley’s said Moises Alou had reserved the basement so that he and his teammates could celebrate the Cubs’ first trip to the World Series since 1945.

Newlyweds Leighton Meester (“Gossip Girl”) and Adam Brody (“The OC”) had brunch Saturday at Little Market Brasserie at the Talbott Hotel in the Gold Coast. Meester is in Chicago rehearsing with James Franco (“127 Hours”) and Chris O’Dowd (“Bridesmaids”) for Broadway’s “Of Mice and Men,” which is directed by Steppenwolf’s Anna D. Shapiro and begins performances in New York March 19.

The cast of “Shameless” wasn’t in Chicago very long last week. They never really are. But Emmy Rossum and co. still found time to hit up a few restaurants while here filming exterior scenes for the fourth season of the Showtime dramedy.

It might be premature to compare the “Chicago Fire” and “Chicago PD” franchise with the long-running “Law & Order” franchise, but the similarities are there. Both NBC franchises were created by legendary producer Dick Wolf. Both involve public service. Both have aired crossover episodes. And if Wolf goes ahead with the rumored Chicago medical spinoff to “Fire” and “PD,” both will have spawned multiple shows.

With White Sox legend Frank Thomas getting elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame today, I thought I would check in and see how his Big Hurt Beer was doing. Imagine my surprise when I came across this gem. It’s a low-budget commercial for Thomas’s Big Hurt Beer starring WWF Superstar Hacksaw Jim Duggan.

As legend has it, iO co-founder Charna Halpern was nearing the end of her annual search for potential “Saturday Night Live” cast members when she spotted Cecily Strong working the iO box office one night on her way out. Halpern encouraged the Oak Park native to audition, even though she was planning on skipping it because she didn’t feel ready, and, well, you can figure out what happened from there.

Haley Reinhart has an idea for her music video for her song “Show Me Your Moves!” but she doesn’t have the funds to pay for it. The Wheeling native and “American Idol” alum was dropped by Interscope Records in 2012.

Don’t recognize Chicago in the trailer for NBC’s “Crisis”? You’re not supposed to. The political thriller featuring Gillian Anderson (“X-Files”) and Dermot Mulroney (“My Best Friend’s Wedding”) is filmed entirely in Chicago but set in Washington, D.C.

Taylor Kitsch was approached recently by an energetic military veteran in a hole-in-the-wall bar in Austin, Texas. The veteran wanted to let Kitsch know how much his film “Lone Survivor” — based on the nonfiction book about U.S. Navy SEALs who were ambushed in Afghanistan in 2005 — meant to him. Rather than brush him off with a handshake and a “thank you,” Kitsch struck up a conversation with the veteran.

Channing Tatum wants to play Marvel Comics’ card-throwing Cajun, Gambit. Tatum made his pitch during an interview with Total Film last year. “X-Men” producer Lauren Shuler Donner recently told Empire the feeling is mutual. She said she’s “dying” to do a Gambit movie with Tatum and just needs to get the studio on board.

Ke$ha’s concert March 15 at The Venue at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind. has been postponed due her current stint in rehab. The 26-year-old pop star checked into Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center in Lemont, Ill. last month, reportedly due to an eating disorder.

Mike Tyson occasionally has to cut himself off before telling friends a story about his colorful past when his wife, Lakiha Spicer, is in the room. The boxing legend first likes to warn his wife of four and a half years (and the mother of two of his eight children) that she might not like what she's about to hear.

“The Capones” cast member and Elmwood Park resident Madeline Santarelli passed away Monday due to stage 4 liver and lung cancer, according to Cara Leopardo, co-creator of Reelz's "The Capones." A spokesman for Reelz confirmed the news of Santarelli's death. She was 35 years old.

The “Transformers: Age of Extinction” trailer made its debut Sunday during the Super Bowl and gave viewers their first look at the fourth film in the Michael Bay-directed franchise, which now stars Mark Wahlberg instead of Shia LaBeouf. But as was often the case with LaBeouf, Wahlberg plays second fiddle to the real stars of the trailer: The robots in disguise.

There will likely be over one hundred million viewers watching Sunday when pop star Bruno Mars follows in the footsteps of Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, U2 and Madonna and headlines the Super Bowl halftime show. The Super Bowl is expected to be the highest-rated broadcast of the year in the U.S.

The ABC reality show “Extreme Weight Loss” (previously known as “Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition”) is looking for applicants who want to lose at least 50 percent of their body weight over the course of a year.

Sarah Jessica Parker will appear March 7 at Nordstrom on Michigan Avenue to promote her SJP Collection by Sarah Jessica Parker. The “Sex and the City” actress will launch the collection – which includes shoes and handbags – Feb. 28 exclusively at Nordstrom.

“Hardcore Pawn: Chicago” will not return to Tru TV for a second season, according to a spokesman for Turner Broadcasting, which owns Tru TV. The reality show – which was a spinoff of “Hardcore Pawn,” now in its eighth season -- revolved around Royal Pawn Shop in the Loop and co-owners and brothers Randy and Wayne Cohen.

It’s no coincidence that the series premiere of “The Capones” reality TV show — which debuts Tuesday on Reelz channel — kicks off with a suit-wearing, cigar-smoking Dominic Capone firing a tommy gun in a field. The scene is a nod to Al Capone, the prohibition-era gangster who Dominic claims was his great, great grandfather’s nephew.

Hollywood character actor Luis Guzman (“Boogie Nights”) visited Polish & Pour nail salon in Old Town Saturday with some of his “Mind Games” castmates. On Sunday, Guzman watched playoff football and ate wings at Municipal Bar + Dining Co. in River North with Casey Urlacher, brother of retired Bear Brian Urlacher.

The Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo, Starlin Castro and Jeff Samardzija were on hand for Kerry Wood’s Woody’s Winter Warm-Up fundraiser Friday at Harry Caray’s Tavern at Navy Pier, but it was former Cub Mark Prior who guests seemed most excited to see that night. And like some of the other past and present Cubs players in attendance, Prior got behind the bar and served drinks. The benefit raised $108,000 for the Wood Family Foundation.

Lady Gaga wasn’t just being polite when she told Giuliana Rancic on the American Music Awards red carpet that she was a fan of her restaurant, RPM Italian. The pop mega star genuinely seems to love RPM Italian, seeing how she was spotted having dinner there again Friday.

The upcoming NBC political drama “Crisis” is looking for extras to play “Aryan nation types,” according to an ad posted on 4 Star Casting’s Facebook page. Filming will tentatively take place Wednesday.

Stuntman Mike Fierro took part in a free fall from the fifth floor of the K2 Apartments in the West Town neighborhood Thursday during a stunt for NBC’s “Chicago PD.” Fierro was believed to have fallen 35 feet before landing on an airbag.

Since it opened in the old Leon’s Ribs spot in Lincoln Park last March, there hasn’t been a better place in Chicago to watch wrestling pay per views than The Squared Circle. The restaurant owned by wrestler Lisa Marie Varon and her husband Lee Varon boasts excellent food and a lively crowd that arrives hours in advance to get a good seat. And besides that, it beats paying $60 every month for the PPVs.

Zach Gilford had a hard time listening to “Thriller,” Michael Jackson’s classic song about things that go bump in the night, when he was a child growing up in Evanston. And the “Friday Night Lights” actor said it had nothing to do with the menacing werewolf or dancing zombies featured in the music video.

Pop star P!nk had dinner with her daughter Wednesday at Frasca Pizzeria & Wine Bar in Roscoe Village. On Friday, P!nk had dinner at Crosby's Kitchen in Lakeview. And if you’re wondering what the “Just Give Me a Reason” singer was doing in the area, she had a show Thursday in Milwaukee.

Rather than take a look at what is going on this weekend like I normally do in this column, I thought I would preview some of the biggest, Chicago-related celebrity events taking place this year. I’m not talking about the events we see every year (Lollapalooza, Ravinia Festival and the Just For Laughs comedy festival — you know, before Just For Laughs decided to take this year off to rethink its business model), but the ones that are unique to 2014.

Ex-Cub and current Tampa Bay Ray David DeJesus will host his karaoke fundaiser, “Strike a Chord,” Jan. 16 at American Junkie along with the David DeJesus Family Foundation and Cubs Charities. The benefit will raise money for ALS research and feature karaoke performance by players, guests and local musicians.

Cameron Diaz will be signing copies of her new self-help book, "The Body Book: The Law of Hunger, the Science of Strength, and Other Ways to Love Your Amazing Body," Thursday at North Central College’s Wentz Hall in Naperville. The signing is presented by Anderson's Bookshop.

There are few things more important to me than credibility. So when Pete Wentz told me Fall Out Boy wasn’t getting back together, only for Fall Out Boy to announce it was reuniting the same day my story ran in the Tribune and RedEye, I was furious. He could have just said “no comment” when I asked about the reunion rumors, but Wentz, who I was somewhat friendly with and may have interviewed more times than anyone else did during Fall Out Boy’s hiatus, instead denied the rumors to my face and said “Don’t hold your breath.” And because I didn’t feel stupid enough about the whole thing, Wentz tweeted “You can take a breath now” once the news broke, poking fun at my story.

I have this moment once a year, sometimes twice. I’ll walk away from an interview or an event I just covered and won’t think about my deadline, how the article will turn out or what I could have done better, like I normally do. Instead, I’ll soak in what just happened and think to myself, “Oh, that’s right. I have kind of a cool job.”

“Biggest Loser” winner and Wheeling native Danni Allen and Marcus Lemonis, star of CNBC’s “The Profit,” opened a yoga studio in Evanston last week called One2One. The name is a play on the 121 pounds Allen lost on the NBC reality TV competition.

Drake will be appearing Thursday at Paris Club’s upstairs club, Studio Paris following his concert at the United Center. Tickets are $100 for men and $40 for women and can be purchased by clicking here.

The Bears’ Jay Cutler and wife Kristin Cavallari must have bonded with Steve Rannazzisi when they appeared together on FXX’s “The League,” because the famous couple was on hand for the comedian’s show Saturday at Zanies in Rosemont and visited with him backstage.

The sequel to “Man of Steel” will film just outside of Yorkville on Route 126 in February, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. That’s the same field where Clark Kent’s Smallville farm house was located in the first film. The set had been torn down after the original film wrapped, but now it appears it is being rebuilt for the sequel.

If you wanted to see someone famous when you went out to eat in Chicago this year, Chicago Cut Steakhouse was your best bet — especially if you know your athletes. While there are a small number of places in the city that hosted bigger names, none hosted more stars than this River North restaurant. And that’s why it comes in at No. 3 on the list of “Top Celebrity Hangouts of 2013.”

Not even a visit from Anna Kendrick last year could keep Hot Doug’s owner Doug Sohn from renaming the fire dog sausage he named after the “Up in the Air” actress. The Anna Kendrick is now the Malin Akerman -- inspired by the “Watchmen” and “Rock of Ages” actress.

Zach Gilford can relate to the many people who had their cars towed due to Chicago’s winter overnight parking ban, which went into effect Sunday. The “Friday Night Lights” actor and Evanston native was forced to make a visit to the auto pound this weekend while in town for Thanksgiving, only Gilford was there because he parked in a handicap spot.

The start of the Cubs game was delayed due to rain on this August afternoon at Wrigley Field, which meant Plain White T’s bassist and die-hard Cubs fan Dave Tirio — scheduled to throw out the first pitch and sing the seventh-inning stretch with lead singer Tom Higgenson — had more time to dwell on the task at hand.

The “Top Celebrity Hangouts of 2013” list continues this week with a very familiar name to those who have been following the rankings the past few years. Whereas No. 5, Siena Tavern, is a newcomer (it opened in February), the No. 4 hot spot on the list has made the top five every year since I started my rankings in 2010.

When Chicago hosts three Hollywood movie shoots (“Divergent,” “Jupiter Ascending,” “Transformers: Age of Extinction”), two A-list stars who are keeping their significant others company while they film here (Ashton Kutcher, Lady Gaga) and one bar-hopping championship sports team (Blackhawks, obviously), all in a span of 12 months, an uptick in celebrity sightings around the city is to be expected.

The first place Emmy Rossum had dinner while in Chicago this week to film exterior scenes for the upcoming season Showtime’s “Shameless” was Sunda. Rossum dined at Sunda on Sunday and then plugged the Asian restaurant on Twitter, as she is known to do for restaurants she visits.

When the members of the Chicago-area heavy metal band For All I Am needed a new guitarist and backup singer for their group, known for its death-growl vocals and head-banging guitar riffs, they turned to 19-year-old Jesse Marx — youngest son of Richard Marx.

Nick Cannon faces the unenviable responsibility every holiday season of having to find a Christmas gift for the woman with everything: Mariah Carey. It’s a small price to pay for getting to call one of the music industry’s most successful and desirable women his wife, but a stressful task nonetheless. Add to that the fact that Carey is a Christmas fanatic and is often associated with the holiday thanks to her hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and, well, Cannon — host of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” and MTV2’s “Wild ’N Out” — has his work cut out for him every year.

You probably won’t understand most of what is being said in the trailer for the Bollywood film, “Dhoom 3,” released today, but you will recognize several of the locations featured in the nearly three minute video.

On the day before his debut album hit stores, 23-year-old country singer-songwriter Thomas Rhett — whose song, “It Goes Like This,” has been No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart for three straight weeks — said he was a bit on edge.

Forget “Who done it?” The real mystery surrounding the sequel to the indie horror flick “Munger Road” — which revolved around a killer on the loose in the St. Charles area and ended with one of more abrupt cliffhangers you’ll see in a movie — has been “Where is it?”

First Miley Cyrus expressed her love for Comedy Central’s “Workaholics” by tweeting “Workaholics please come back” in July. Now fellow pop star Justin Bieber is giving his endorsement to the cult hit about three hard-partying telemarketers, which will return for Season 4 next year. Bieber posted a photo on Instagram this month of a TV screen featuring an episode of “Workaholics” with the caption “Watching Workaholics.”

Add Jennifer Hudson to the list of actors and actresses who have a hard time watching themselves on the big screen. The seemingly confident Oscar and Grammy winner said she gets uncomfortable seeing herself on film and television.

Christian Madsen went from watching the Blackhawks play at the United Center while in Chicago filming the futuristic sci-fi flick “Divergent” over the summer to appearing in a commercial with them for BMO Harris Bank.

We all wanted to see more of Natasha Leggero after her ruthless performance during the Comedy Central Roast of James Franco, and now we’ll get to thanks to the Rockford native’s new weekly YouTube show for the Jash Network.

When audience members on hand for Steve Aoki’s show at the Veld Music Festival in Toronto in August lifted up an excited fan in a wheelchair, the world-famous electronic dance music DJ acknowledged the fan by throwing a cake at him from the stage that splattered all over his face and clothes.

What does the Bears’ Lance Briggs have to do with Chicago injury firm Goldberg Weisman Cairo? More than you think, according to this new G.W.C. commercial featuring Briggs in a generic No. 55 jersey, football in hand.

When a celebrity tells a Chicago media outlet they love Chicago, it can sound like insincere pandering. But when a celebrity tells a national media outlet they love Chicago and have discussed moving here? That’s a different story.

Believe it or not, Scottie Pippen turned 48 Wednesday (that’s right, let that soak in for a second). And to celebrate, the Bulls legend and his wife Larsa had dinner at Chicago Cut Steakhouse with family and friends, including the Bulls’ Nazr Mohammed.

Thomas Mars doesn’t plan in advance when and where he will crowd-surf during performances. The lead singer of French rock band Phoenix said it just kind of happens. But at 36 years old, the father of two and husband of director Sofia Coppola acknowledged he probably needs to stop soon.

The bar you saw regularly on NBC’s “Chicago Fire” last season and will continue to see for about the first half of this season is Lottie’s Pub in Bucktown. The bar you’ll see on the firefighter drama later this season? That will be a set made to look like Lottie’s, built on a sound stage at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios.

Comedy fans may recognize the voice they hear on the FlyLo FM radio station in the new “Grand Theft Auto V” video game. It’s that of Chicago comedian Hannibal Buress, who co-stars on Cartoon Network’s “The Eric Andre Show” and the new Nike and Foot Locker commercial featuring the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant.

Don’t be fooled by Sean Astin’s plump appearance as Samwise Gamgee in “The Lord of the Rings” film trilogy. The 42-year-old actor is an avid runner and has completed six marathons. And if all goes according to plan, Astin will be adding to that number Oct. 13 when he runs the Chicago Marathon.

Whatever the 100 or so extras were frantically running away from during “Transformers 4” filming Sunday at Cloud Gate (better known as The Bean) in Millennium Park, Kelsey Grammer, who plays a villain in the film, was nonchalantly walking toward it. Grammer was on the phone in the scene paying no attention to the scared civilians running past him.

What was mostly a quiet day of "Transformers 4" filming in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower Saturday, at least by director Michael Bay's standards, momentarily picked up when star Mark Wahlberg visited the set.

Before reuniting for dinner at their parents’ home during a recent break from touring, the three siblings that make up The Band Perry — known best for their quadruple-platinum hit “If I Die Young” — and their parents — who regularly join the band on tour — agreed to act like a normal family and stay away from talking about music.

The Symmetry Live party at the W Chicago - Lakeshore hotel's Wet deck featuring Jessie Ware on Thursday made me wonder why more people aren't hanging out at this seventh floor bar with incredible views of Lake Michigan and Navy Pier, the Filter Magazine Lolla kickoff party at the Logan Square Auditorium featuring Smith Westerns reminded me why I love partying with hipsters (but why didn't I see "Shaun of the Dead" co-stars Nick Frost and Simon Pegg, who were scheduled to make an appearance?) and The Underground party proved that it's still a contender in the late night scene with its impressive renovantion and new lighting. Lil Jon, Randy Jackson and Ryan Cabrera were on hand for the latter party.

It’s here: The one weekend a year when the top parties in the world aren’t taking place in Los Angeles, New York, Paris or Rio de Janeiro, but right in our very own backyard. Lollapalooza weekend is your opportunity to mingle with celebrities while watching artists from the three-day Grant Park festival’s roster take the stage in a smaller, more intimate setting.

David Nail knows exactly how he would have handled success had it come as early in his career and as intense as it did for fellow country singer Taylor Swift, who was 16 when she released her debut album, which has sold over 5 million copies, and for whom Nail opened in 2011.

Rather than have his buddies over to his Los Angeles home Thursday for a Fourth of July barbecue, Goo Goo Dolls frontman John Rzeznik was playing host in a mostly bare dressing room backstage at Ravinia Festival, where his band was set to perform its third show in three nights with co-headliners Matchbox Twenty.

Plain White T’s lead singer and Villa Park native Tom Higgenson was in the process Monday of putting together the all-important guest list for his band’s concert Saturday at Lincoln Park Zoo. He wanted to avoid the hassle of having to make last-minute arrangements the day of the show, as is often the case when the band plays in the Chicago area. So who made the cut? Friends and family, of course, and also the guy who recently installed the carpet at Higgenson’s parents’ home.

If there was any sort of competition between the year’s most anticipated superhero films, “Iron Man 3” and “Man of Steel” — which opened at the U.S. box office six weeks apart — “Iron Man” actress Gwyneth Paltrow hadn’t heard anything about it.

Katie Cassidy is the first to admit she isn’t a comic book aficionado. The model-turned-actress refuses to lie about it just to please the die-hard fans who watch her play legal aid attorney Laurel Lance on The CW’s comic book adaptation “Arrow.” Truth be told, her love of video games as a kid is about as “nerdy” as she gets.

William Shatner jokingly told new “Star Wars” director J.J. Abrams during a sketch on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last week that the franchise should revolve around Captain Kirk, the character Shatner famously played on “Star Trek,” and “a roadtrip of a lifetime.” Two days after that, Shatner impersonated an elephant and otherwise hammed it up a guest on CBS’s “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” just like he does in his commercials for Priceline.com and just about everything else he is in these days.

The week before The Squared Circle opened in mid-March, owner and pro wrestler Lisa Marie Varon — better known as Victoria during her WWE days and Tara currently with TNA wrestling — sat in a corner booth of her Lincoln Park restaurant, conducting one of many interviews that month without having served a single gourmet burger or non-traditional pizza.

What’s it like to go out to eat with Jillian Michaels, the drill sergeant-like trainer on NBC’s weight loss reality TV series “The Biggest Loser” — known for getting in the faces of the show’s overweight contestants?

Scotty McCreery's decision to enroll at North Carolina State University last fall might not have created as big of a buzz in the media as James Franco's and Emma Watson's pursuit of a college education, but that doesn't mean the 2011 “American Idol” winner has been able to blend in easily his freshman year at the Raleigh, N.C., school.

If getting reamed by the notoriously grumpy Harrison Ford is a rite of passage for entertainment reporters, you could say I was finally initiated into the club March 18. In fact, you could say a few Chicago reporters were initiated that night.

Some of you might not be very familiar with Dragonette’s music catalog, but you’ve most likely heard lead singer Martina Sorbara’s voice. She provides the vocals on Martin Solveig's hit “Hello,” which reached No. 46 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was featured in ads for Trident Vitality gum.

Kill Hannah has spent much of its career coming to its fans around the country and in Europe, but once a year during the holiday season the Chicago alt-rock band has its fans come to it for “A New Heart For Christmas.” And considering the event — a fan expo of sorts — is in its ninth year (it kicked off Thursday with a rehearsal performance and fan Q&A and is followed by an acoustic show Friday at Crimson Lounge and a concert Saturday at the neighboring House of Blues) the trip must be worth it for the band’s faithful followers.

Any rapper can star in a movie, but starring, directing, co-writing and co-scoring a studio film? Even for a man who calls directors Quentin Tarantino and Eli Roth friends, that’s almost unheard of within the hip-hop world. And yet, it’s no surprise RZA (real name: Robert Fitzgerald Diggs) would want to test that mostly uncharted territory.

Lee DeWyze was hesitant about having future wife Jonna Walsh walk down the aisle in July to the song he wrote specifically for her. The Mount Prospect native and former “American Idol” winner was worried guests would see it as cheesy. But after giving it some thought, he agreed to have the song, “Who Would Have Known,” played at their wedding in Camarillo, Calif., and then performed it himself afterward at the reception.

There are plenty of actors in Hollywood who are notoriously difficult to work with on set, but William H. Macy has never appeared to be one of them — or so it seemed. The “Fargo” and “Seabiscuit” actor, nicknamed “Howdy Doody” by director David Mamet for his resemblance to the children’s TV show puppet, claims he wasn’t a very friendly co-worker early on in his 30-plus-year career.

Oprah Winfrey was back to interviewing A-list stars Wednesday in Chicago just like the old days, only this time it was pop star Justin Bieber at RL restaurant rather than Harpo Studios and it was for OWN’s “Oprah’s Next Chapter” rather than "The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

Want to see dead people? Apparently the Rialto Square Theatre is one of your best bets. The 86-year-old venue in Joliet offers ghost tours led by the All Seeing Paranormal Group and will be featured on Syfy’s “Ghost Hunters” Wednesday.

The crowds at Rockie Fresh's shows haven't changed all that much since rapper Rick Ross signed the 21-year-old Homewood-Flossmoor High School alum to his Maybach Music Group record label in July. And Fresh (real name: Donald Pullen) still lives in the Chicago area when he isn't touring, as he has his whole life. But with Fresh about to jump in the studio to record his debut album, it appears that could all change soon.

It’s going to be tough for the Chicago International Film Festival to top this year’s opening night. The 48th annual festival kicked off Thursday with a screening of “Stand Up Guys” at the Harris Theater and appearances on the red carpet by cast members and Oscar winners Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin.

There was no script for the “Art of Wrestling” show starring WWE Champion CM Punk and host and fellow wrestler Colt Cabana Wednesday at the ComedySportz Theatre. As Punk pointed out, there never usually is with anything he’s involved in because “I hate that (crap).”

Rockie Fresh wasn’t part of the shoving match that took place Saturday between Rick Ross’s entourage and Young Jeezy’s entourage backstage at the BET 2012 Hip-Hop Awards, but the 21 year-old Chicago rapper, who recently signed with Ross’s label, Maybach Music Group, was in the building when it took place and spoke to Ross afterward.

Adam Young didn’t move to a big city after his one-man electronica act, Owl City, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with the 2009 single “Fireflies.” And it doesn’t sound like the resident of Owatonna, Minn., which has a population of approximately 25,570, will move now that his latest single, “Good Time,” a collaboration with “Call Me Maybe” singer Carly Rae Jepsen off of his album “The Midsummer Station” (released in August) recently cracked the top 10 on the Hot 100.

WWE Champion CM Punk will share some of his most entertaining stories Wednesday at the ComedySportz Theatre in Lakeview and then watch as the ComedySportz improv group acts them out. The event will be hosted by fellow wrestler and ComedySportz alum Colt Cabana and will benefit the Sam Thompson Memorial Fund.

If you have been looking for members of Team USA and Team Europe around the city this week, you’ve been searching in the wrong place. The golfers have been hanging out mostly in the suburbs while in town for the Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill.

If the producers of “American Idol” were hoping for judges who would shed a tear on camera, they got it in pop star Mariah Carey and country singer Keith Urban. The two new judges admitted during a press conference Wednesday at the Adler Planetarium — where auditions for the Fox singing competition took place — that they got emotional listening to aspiring singers in Chicago.

TruTV’s “Hardcore Pawn: Chicago” – the spinoff of “Hardcore Pawn” – wrapped filming September 13 at Royal Pawn Shop on S. Clark Street. The cameras began rolling in July and had been filming store owners and brothers Randy and Wayne Cohen and their customers.

Michael Pena wanted to sit closer to the floor-to-ceiling windows at NoMI during a recent lunch — and who wouldn't? The trendy restaurant on the seventh floor of the Park Hyatt hotel offers customers a scenic view of Michigan Avenue and the Water Tower building, and in the case of Pena, who shares top billing with Jake Gyllenhaal in the upcoming film "End of Watch," a far different view from the one he was used to growing up in Chicago.

If you're hoping to hear Steve-O's take on airline food or the presidential election when he performs stand-up Thursday at Zanies Comedy Club-Chicago and Friday and Saturday at Zanies-Rosemont, you're probably going to be let down. The former star of MTV's “Jackass” and “Wildboyz” — who made a name for himself with his painful-looking stunts, including swallowing a goldfish and regurgitating it — isn't that kind of comedian.

Greg Gibbs, owner of the Chicago Bagel Authority restaurants in Lakeview and Lincoln Park, asked regular customer and retired Cub Kerry Wood two weeks ago to come up with a sandwich for his menu, which also features The Cosby roast beef sandwich and the Stud's Turkey sandwich.

Zach Gilford looked more like a college student meeting for a study session than a TV actor meeting for an interview over brunch Thursday at West Town Bakery & Diner. The Evanston native and Northwestern alum, best known for his role as Matt Saracen on NBC’s football drama, “Friday Night Lights,” sat in a booth with his Mountain Hardwear backpack at his side and his bicycle locked up outside the Ukrainian Village restaurant.

Most Chicagoans would jump at the opportunity to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, but not Zach Gilford. The Evanston native and former “Friday Night Lights” actor turned down the Cubs’ offer. Why?

You probably already know Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder and former Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello made surprise appearances on stage with Bruce Springsteen Friday and Saturday at The Boss’s concerts at Wrigley Field, but there were a few famous faces on hand that you might not know about.

There’s a chance former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich would have gone to Roots Handmade Pizza in Ukrainian Village Wednesday to watch the Dallas Cowboys-New York Giants game on NBC, you know, if not for the fact that he’s serving a 14-year sentence on a corruption conviction.

Normally when a cast member from MTV’s “Jersey Shore” is spotted at a bar or club in the Chicago area, it’s because they’re making a paid appearance. But apparently that wasn’t the case when Vinny Guadagnino, one third of "MVP," hit Vertigo in the Dana Hotel Sunday.

You probably know close to nothing about “Underemployed” -- other than the fact that the MTV show spent the summer filming in Chicago. The brand new series doesn’t have a star like “Boss,” as many recognizable faces as “The Mob Doctor” or any of the controversy that surrounded “Mob Wives Chicago.”

Pam Grier plans on taking a break from fan conventions and autograph signings for a while following her many movie theater and autograph show appearances in the Chicago area this weekend. It's not that the blaxploitation movie legend doesn't enjoy meeting fans. She calls the interaction “rewarding.” It's just that Grier appears to be next in line to get the Hollywood biopic treatment.

My first interview on the celebrity beat, in 2009, should have been a total disaster. I’d never spent an entire afternoon with an actor before and stupidly listened to another journalist who told me I shouldn’t write down notes or tape-record as the subject is speaking because it could hurt the flow and intimacy of the conversation. As a result, I had barely any quotes and details to work with and it showed in my poorly written article.

Jenny McCarthy is a bit of a talker, so it would only make sense that the former “Singled Out” host and frequent “Oprah Winfrey Show” guest would be next in line for her own talk show. “The Jenny McCarthy Show” is set to air on VH1 early next year and will have a “Playboy After Dark” feel, according to the Evergreen Park native.

The cast of “Shameless” — including Emmy Rossum, Jeremy Allen White, Harry Hamlin, Shanola Hampton, Steve Howey and Zach McGowan — partied Thursday at The Underground while in town filming the third season of the Showtime dramedy. Noticeably absent?

Before honoring their late father at this week’s "Goin' Back to Indiana” celebration in Gary, Indiana, Michael Jackson’s children -- Prince, Paris and Blanket -- visited Six Flags Great America in Gurnee Monday.

Marc Anthony has done plenty of favors for other charities over the years, but now it's the salsa crooner who is asking for help for his own non-profit organization. Anthony and Chicago entreprenuer Henry Cardenas are raising money for the charity they created earlier this year, Maestro Cares Foundation, which benefits orphaned and disadvantaged children in Latin America. The charity's first Chicago fundraiser took place Aug. 20 at Sofitel Chicago Water Tower.

The list of reality shows Aylin Bayramoglu has auditioned for unsuccessfully is a long one: “American Idol,” “The X Factor,” “American Juniors,” “America's Got Talent,” “The Sing-Off” and “The Glee Project.” And yet, that didn't stop the Loyola Academy alum from trying out for “The Glee Project's” second season last November at McCormick Place, just like she did for the first.

You don't have to look very hard in Plano to find traces of the Superman reboot that filmed in the western suburb last summer. Plano, which doubled as the fictional town of Smallville in the upcoming “Man of Steel,” has yet to take down the Smallville City Hall sign on the Amtrak depot or paint over the hard-to-miss U.S. flag mural located on the city's main street.

Following their show at the United Center Thursday, Coldplay band members Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland and Will Champion hit 10pin Bowling Lounge for food, drinks and, of course, bowling.

What do Chicago restaurants Spiaggia, Table Fifty-Two, Girl and the Goat and Topolobampo have in common? They all feature former “Top Chef” and “Top Chef Masters” contestants in their kitchens. And, not coincidentally, they’ve all been visited by Lady Gaga this year.

There’s something a little off about Vanilla Ice’s concerts. It might have something to do with the guys dancing on stage in Santa Claus and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles costumes, and the Halloween decorations hanging up in the background regardless of what time of year it is.

Before Zach Gilford and his fiancee, Kiele Sanchez, went to check out the gift suites in the Hard Rock Hotel on Saturday, the self-deprecating “Friday Night Lights” star and Evanston native, who is currently filming Fox's “The Mob Doctor” in Chicago, politely excused himself from our conversation in the hotel's It's So Miami Oasis.

Before Zach Gilford and his fiancee Kiele Sanchez checked out the gift suites in the Hard Rock Hotel Saturday, the self deprecating “Friday Night Lights” star and Evanston native politely excused himself from our conversation in the hotel’s It’s So Miami Oasis.

It’s hard to predict all of the celebrities who will attend Lollapalooza this year. Unlike a major sporting event in Chicago, the stars in the Lollapalooza crowd aren’t just actors, musicians and athletes with local ties. They’re often from all over the country and can be completely random (like “Superbad” actor Christopher Mintz-Plasse and “Twilight” actor Kellan Lutz last year). We do, however, know a few of the big names who will be taking in the Lollapalooza festivities, either because they're making appearances in the city or tweeted about it.

Rascal Flatts has sold more than 21 million records and was the top-selling act of 2006, according to Nielsen, but Gary LeVox, lead singer of the country music trio known for such hits as “What Hurts the Most” and “My Wish,” said none of that matters in the eyes of his two pre-teen daughters.

Lady Gaga has ordered fried chicken at Table Fifty-Two and deep dish pizza at Lou Malnati’s during past visits to Chicago, but the “Born This Way” singer opted for vegetarian-friendly restaurants during last week’s stay in the city.

You can count on at least one celebrity taking part in the XSport Fitness Rock 'N' Roll Chicago Half Marathon every year, whether it's performing on stage during the post-race party at Butler Field in Grant Park or running the course through the Loop and River North, among other neighborhoods.

I knew Shia LaBeouf had been spotted around Chicago multiple times over the last few days, but I couldn’t figure out why exactly the “Transformers” and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” star was here – that is until I happened to pass by him on my way home late Wednesday night.

“The Dark Knight Rises” has already been a blessing for Pittsburgh and Newark, N.J., two non-traditional film locations that replaced Chicago as Gotham City in the third Christopher Nolan-directed Batman film.

Paris Club's upstairs lounge, Studio Paris, doesn’t need to book Lollapalooza headliners to draw a VIP crowd during the annual music festival, but the popular celeb hangout did it anyway because, well, that’s what they do.

There’s been a change of plans with Black Cards — the band created in 2010 by Wilmette native Pete Wentz after Fall Out Boy went on indefinite hiatus. Black Cards originally had a reggae-ska-pop sound with singer Bebe Rexha but became an electronic dance music duo featuring only Wentz and Spencer Peterson when Rexha and the band parted ways in January.

If you followed Kelsey Grammer’s time in the Chicago area filming Season 2 of cable network Starz’s “Boss,” you likely know the five-time Emmy-winning actor had his wife’s name tattooed on his hip in April at Insight Studios in the Noble Square neighborhood and that he was a regular at Spacca Napoli Pizzeria in Ravenswood.

There was no need to begin lining up for "American Idol"auditions outside the United Center early Thursday. Aspiring singers were given their 30 to 45 seconds with "Idol" producers based on when they picked up their wristbands during pre-registration, which took place Tuesday through Thursday morning at the United Center. Everyone was likely to get a turn.

You’ve heard “Call Me, Maybe” all over the radio and watched the many parodies of it on YouTube (I like the Jimmy Fallon version with The Roots the best). Now is your chance to see the song of the summer performed in person – and for free.

You could count on at least one high-profile Hollywood film shooting in the Chicago area the last few summers, from “Public Enemies” in 2008 and “A Nightmare on Elm Street” in 2009 to “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” and “The Dilemma” in 2010 and “Man of Steel” in 2011.

“Man of Steel” isn’t scheduled to hit theaters until June 14, 2013, but the city of Plano doesn’t want to wait that long to capitalize on the Superman reboot that filmed last August in the Western suburb’s downtown area.

Kerry Wood has officially been retired for over a month, but he hasn’t exactly felt retired. That’s because the ex-Cub has been so busy promoting his “All You Can Be” children’s book and preparing for his seventh annual Strike Zone Celebrity Bowling Tournament Wednesday at 10pin Bowling Lounge.

While many Chicago neighborhood street festivals book one-hit wonders and cover bands to provide their musical entertainment, the 28th annual Old St. Pat’s World’s Largest Block Party will once again opt for more current and nationally known headliners.

Alexander Payne wasn’t the obvious choice to host the Gene Siskel Film Center’s “An Evening With Reese Witherspoon” on Saturday at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, but the director and screenwriter best known for “Sideways” and “The Descendants” — neither of which starred Witherspoon — can say one thing about the Oscar-winning actress that few in Hollywood can: He knew her before she was famous. Well, A-list famous.

If there ever was a year when Jeremy Piven could be excused for missing the annual Piven Theatre Workshop Gala — which benefits the theater his mother Joyce and late father Byrne founded in Evanston 41 years ago — it would be this one.

Shortly before he taped “Conan” at the Chicago Theatre Tuesday and impersonated Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Andy Samberg, sitting at a small, cloth-covered table in the middle of a window-less room in the Peninsula hotel, recalled his first late night talk show appearance in 2006.

Conan O’Brien has been easy to spot around Chicago -- and not just because he’s 6’4 and has hard-to-miss red hair. The Los Angeles-based talk show host has been out and about in the city while here filming “Conan” at the Chicago Theatre, part of the TBS Just For Laughs comedy festival.

During my appearance on Comcast SportsNet’s “Chicago Tribune Live” years ago, the show’s host, David Kaplan, asked what I thought about the subject being discussed because I hadn’t said a word the entire segment. That’s when a cold sweat came over me. I’d spent the last five minutes spaced out and hadn’t listened to a word anyone on the panel had said. It was like all those times when a teacher would call on you while you were daydreaming in school, only this was live TV.

The first summer concert hosted by radio station B96, Eddie & Jobo’s Summer Jam, began with Eddie Volkman skydiving into the World Music Theater (now the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre) in Tinley Park, and his morning show co-host Joe “Jobo” Bohannon riding “Laura the Elephant” down the aisle.

Most people taking a 90-minute boat tour on a 90-degree afternoon in late May would wear shorts rather than pants for the excursion. Not Diego Boneta. The star of the upcoming “Rock of Ages” film wore jeans as he sat front row on the top deck of the boat, directly in front of the tour guide and directly under the sun.

Drake didn’t head straight to his next tour stop like some artists do after his show Saturday at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park. The “Best I Ever Had” rapper kept the party going in the Chicago-area that night an the night after that.

Midway through One Direction’s interview with “Good Morning America” Saturday outside Barnes & Noble in Old Orchard Center mall in Skokie, interviewer Cameron Mathison stopped the conversation and politely asked the 1,500 or so fans in attendance, some of whom camped out over night last week for wristbands to the book signing, to keep it down for audio purposes. The band members themselves stepped in to help, including Zayn Malik, who shushed the crowd.

It remains to be seen if Charlie Sheen will in fact participate in Saturday’s Dash for Detection 5K Walk/Run for Pancreatic Cancer Research in Grant Park. The controversial actor tweeted earlier this month that he would take part, but his status was uncertain at press time.

For a minute there, I was wondering if there would be any fighting among the cast members of VH1’s upcoming reality show, “Mob Wives Chicago.” There were no signs of tension when I spent an afternoon observing the five women in March and there has been even less drama on Twitter, where the cast members frequently send each other friendly tweets.

Keke Palmer didn’t think Hollywood would be easy after earning a SAG award nomination for her role in the 2004 TV miniseries “The Wool Cap” and starring in the critically-acclaimed 2006 film “Akeelah and the Bee” before she was even a teenager, but the Harvey native and former Robbins resident admits her early success did make her a bit naive.

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, had dinner at upscale Mexican restaurant Mercadito Monday while in Chicago for NATO. And as you would expect, he had plenty of company.

The three minute trailer for the upcoming NBC drama “Chicago Fire” features firefighters battling flames in a collapsing building, a firefighter receiving a “Pulp Fiction”-like needle through the chest, and two people sucking face in the shower, but it’s the unexpected cameo by MayorRahm Emanuel that most caught my attention.

Bowling for charity is hardly a new idea in the Chicago area. The Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade hosts a bowling night during his annual Wade's World Weekend and the Cubs' Kerry Wood will host his Strike Zone Celebrity Bowling tournament for the seventh time June 27 at 10Pin Bowling Lounge. But it appears local athletes, past and present, are now jumping on the fundraising trend more than ever.

What has supermodel Cindy Crawford – who was hard to miss in the 1980s and ‘90s thanks to her countless magazine covers and Pepsi and Revlon commercials, not to mention her MTV show “House of Style” — been up to the last few years?

It was difficult to tell if the band students at Bronzeville Institute Scholastic were familiar with Daughtry’s music when the multi-platinum-selling rock band performed Friday at the Bronzeville neighborhood high school, not far from the old Robert Taylor Homes. Besides a few students tapping their feet during the two-song acoustic performance in the school’s band room, the well-behaved class was mostly silent and motionless.

Before he was hosting “Access Hollywood” and the nationally syndicated radio program, “The Billy Bush Show” and interviewing A-listers such as Justin Bieber, Brad Pitt and George Clooney, Billy Bush was a green correspondent for “Access” just trying to learn the ropes of celebrity interviews. His interviews weren’t always pretty in those days, but he’s learned from them (even the uncomfortable sit-down with Tommy Lee Jones).

Patrick Kane didn’t shy away from photos when he was partying Saturday at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s annual Mifflin Street Block Party like many celebrities would have. The Blackhawks star instead posed for them – as he often does – and now the photos are making the rounds online – as they often do.

When Lollapalooza released its lineup for this year’s music festival last month, one name in particular on the rock- and DJ-heavy list, which includes Black Sabbath and Jack White, had some music fans scratching their heads: Haley Reinhart.

Gary Sinise isn’t sure if there will be a ninth season of CBS’s “CSI: NY.” The Highland Park High School alum and former “Forrest Gump” and “Ransom” actor said the show is “on the bubble,” and he won’t learn its fate for another few weeks.

Get ready, Chicago. Jennifer Lopez and Enrique Iglesias are bringing their co-headlining tour to the Windy City, and you know it’s going to be muy caliente! But will Chicagoans go loco for a Lopez-Iglesias show during Lollapalooza weekend or will the sexy Latin pop stars end up feeling salty – or should I say spicy?

Kim Kardashian’s last public appearance in the Chicago area — a highly anticipated promotional appearance at the Michael Hill Jeweller store in Water Tower Place mall in 2010 — started two hours late and lasted only 20 minutes.

The sixth season of “Jersey Shore” isn’t scheduled to begin filming until the summer and its spinoff, “The Pauly D Project,” isn’t filling the void like you had hoped, so this might be your only chance to get your “Jersey Shore” fix for the time being.

Chicago may have missed out on “The Dark Knight Rises” – which opted to film in Pittsburgh rather than in Chicago like the first two Batman films did – but we did get Miley Cyrus’ high school romance film “LOL.”

WWE bad guy David Otunga feels left out when publications cover sightings of his fiancee, Oscar winner and fellow Chicago native Jennifer Hudson, but don’t mention that he was at the restaurant or store as well – at least that’s what he told me when I met him during Wrestlemania weekend in Miami.

WWE Champion CM Punk, not surprisingly, had a lot to say during my recent interview with him. Here are the parts that didn't make my Punk feature in Tuesday's Chicago Tribune, including the Lockport native's thoughts on The Rock, Chris Brown, wrestling websites and a potential movie career.

When he blasted WWE's higher-ups on live TV, CM Punk had GQ, ESPN and "The Jimmy Kimmel Show" banging on his door. TMZ and CNN interviewed him about his recent Twitter feud with pop star Chris Brown. But on this particular March afternoon on the Blue Line — the train he takes to and fromO'Hare International Airport every week with the diamond-encrusted WWE Championship belt in his suitcase — Punk appears to have gone unrecognized by those sitting around him.

While her 200 or so trendy guests watched the series premiere of VH1’s “House of Consignment” at a screening party at The James Hotel Wednesday, Corri McFadden -- the star of the Chicago-based reality show and founder of eDrop-Off -- sat in the crowd in her gold sequin dress responding to emails and tweets on her laptop.

Boyz II Men is best known for dominating the Billboard charts in the early to mid-‘90s with hits such as “End of the Road” and “One Sweet Day,” but anyone who ever wore a baseball cap with a cardigan or ever had the desire to walk with a cane might also remember the Philadelphia R&B group for its trend-setting fashion.

Josh Hutcherson would like nothing more than to watch the No. 1-ranked Kentucky Wildcats pursue their eighth men’s basketball national championship in this month’s NCAA tournament, but the 19-year-old Kentucky native and Wildcats season ticket holder is busy with other commitments.

The stars of “Mob Wives Chicago” did their best to look all-business while filming the VH1 reality show’s intro behind Cassidy Tire (344 N. Canal Street) Wednesday, but the five women couldn’t help but laugh at themselves and their mishaps during the long shoot.

With less than 45 minutes until ABC's"Windy City Live" would go on the air with an episode dedicated to Bill and Giuliana Rancic, one of the show's staff members on the set asked the all-important question: "Where are Bill and Giuliana?"

You likely have never heard of the five women who will star in VH1’s “Mob Wives Chicago” – the spinoff to the successful New York-based “Mob Wives” – but people who are up on their local mob history may recognize the infamous men who raised each of them.

You will find plenty of merchandise featuring “Pawn Stars” cast member Austin “Chumlee” Russell at the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas — everything from Chumlee bobbleheads, golf balls and Chumberry lip balm to “Chumlee is my homeboy” and “Vote Chumlee for President” T-shirts — but you likely won’t see the 29-year-old reality TV star walking around the store during his shift.

Many U.S. boy bands have tried to recreate the success the Backsteet Boys, ‘N Sync and 98 Degrees enjoyed in the late 1990s and early 2000s (Ever heard of LMNT, which included “Glee” star Matthew Morrison, or Audio, formerly the Diddy-produced B5?) but nearly all have failed to make a real impact, for one reason or another.

Jeremy Allen White had been craving Kuma’s Corner all morning when we met in front of the popular Avondale burger joint Wednesday. The 21-year-old actor visits Kuma’s every time he is in Chicago filming exterior scenes for Showtime’s “Shameless” and was hoping to continue the tradition while in town promoting the series.

Oprah Winfrey had her favorite restaurants where she and her A-list guests would dine during “The Oprah Winfrey Show’s” run in Chicago, including RL and Table Fifty-Two, and now it appears Rosie O’Donnell has her own favorites since she began taping “The Rosie Show” in October in Winfrey’s Harpo Studios.

You don’t need to be a car buff to enjoy the Chicago Auto Show taking place Friday through Feb. 19 at McCormick Place. The 104th edition of the show will once again feature several Chicago athletes appearing on behalf of various manufacturers.

INDIANAPOLIS -- You'll be happy to know I didn't fall asleep on the couch watching the Super Bowl like I did in Dallas last year. That's because I took a different approach when covering the Super Bowl parties in Indianapolis. I didn't stay until the very end of every party and I drank mostly water.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Matt Forte hasn’t spoken to Jay Cutler since it was revealed last month that Cutler and fiancee Kristin Cavallari are expecting, but Forte did make sure to congratulate his Bears teammate.

Big Hurt Beer at U.S. Cellular Field? It could happen, or at least White Sox legend Frank Thomas thinks so. The Big Hurt said his new beer, which launched in the fall, could be available at the South Side ballpark as soon as this season.

Sam Worthington has insisted over the years that he isn’t the tough guy he often plays on the big screen, but the star of “Avatar,” “Clash of the Titans” and “Terminator Salvation” did little to disprove his macho persona when we met in his downtown Chicago hotel last week — at least at first.

LeAnn Rimes and husband Eddie Cibrian didn’t live in Chicago very long, but the celebrity couple was here long enough to lease a Gold Coast condo and have it featured on an episode of HGTV’s new interior design series, “Interiors, Inc.”

David Tutera has been planning weddings for 25 years — including celebrity weddings for ex-"View" co-host Star Jones and ex-New York Giant Antonio Pierce — but the star of the WE network’s “My Fair Wedding” says it hasn’t been until the last five years that grooms took a bigger interest in the decision-making process. He believes this is due in large part to the popularity of wedding programming on television.

The tips collected at Kerry Wood’s charity event at Harry Caray’s Tavern at Navy Pier Friday went straight to the Wood Family Foundation, which might explain why the Cubs and Bears players working the “Woody’s Winter Warm-up” benefit seemed determined to earn gratuity by any means necessary.

“Avatar” and “Clash of the Titans” star Sam Worthington will visit Chicago on Wednesday to promote his upcoming heist thriller “Man on a Ledge.” The 35-year-old actor will meet with media to discuss “Man on a Ledge,” but will not make any public appearances, as far as I know.

Before making the final media rounds to promote his “Woody’s Winter Warm-Up” benefit, the Cubs’ Kerry Wood stood in the waiting area of the posh 316 Club Barber Spa last week — where he would receive a haircut and shave — and gave me a reality check on his famous 20-strikeout performance. The 34-year-old pitcher pointed out that his record-tying outing that felt like it wasn’t that long ago was actually much longer ago than I thought: 14 years ago, to be exact.

Curtis Granderson doesn’t do much cooking other than the eggs and bacon breakfast he prepares for himself and the cornbread he made during an appearance on “The Martha Stewart Show” in 2010, but the New York Yankees star and South Side native put on a chef’s jacket Wednesday at Roots Handmade Pizza, where he is an investor, and took a stab at making his own pizza for once.

Ask on youtube and you shall receive. That’s the lesson Jason Segel superfan and Wrigleyville resident Chelsea Gill learned after she posted a video of herself asking “The Muppets” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” star out through song Monday.

It’s hard to predict what we can expect from Chicago’s celebrity scene in 2012. There could be another blockbuster movie coming our way (like “Man of Steel” in 2011) or one passing us over (“The Dark Knight Rises”). And there could be another celeb moving to the area (Rosie O’Donnell) or one leaving it (LeAnn Rimes, after husband Eddie Cibrian’s show “The Playboy Club” was canceled).

The night before I was supposed to cover Carlos Zambrano’s Big Z Foundation launch party in early 2010, I came down with a case of food poisoning. All I wanted to do was lie in bed with a garbage can at my side. I was in no mood to talk – well, other than yelling “Take me now, God.” And the last thing I wanted to do was think about food, which would be difficult seeing how the party was at Fogo de Chao.

If you want to party with a celebrity during the winter, New Year’s Eve is likely your best opportunity. That’s when celebs who normally would avoid Chicago during the colder months brave the frigid temperatures to make appearances at the city’s various New Year’s Eve parties.

Robin Thicke claimed he needed a nap at the end of his visit to Chicago Tuesday — one of many stops on his promotional tour for his new album, “Love After War” — but you wouldn’t have known it from looking at him.

"The Rosie Show" staff holiday party took place at Roof in the Wit hotel Wednesday and included an appearance by Rosie O’Donnell herself. Highlights from the party and the preparations for the party will air on the OWN network talk show.

Someone must have told Enrique Iglesias he rambles on too much, because the Spanish pop star seemed self-conscious about his longer responses during our phone conversation in late November. Well, that or he was just being self-deprecating — as he’s known to do.

There’s a reason you no longer see a real disco ball hanging over the stage at Poison concerts. Lead singer Bret Michaels said he was nearly crushed by a 320 lb. disco ball while playing “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn” at a show at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park.

Rosie O’Donnell still isn’t used to the reaction she’s been getting on the streets of Chicago. The talk show host, who began taping “The Rosie Show” in the West Loop in October, said it’s far different from the reaction she gets in Los Angeles and New York.

Arguing over the set list has become a summer tradition for the four members of Poison. The guys each like to make their opinions on the set list known, and will argue about it before every summer tour “in true Poision fashion,” according to lead singer Bret Michaels.

The Fray’s Isaac Slade said filming the music video for “You Found Me” on the streets of Chicago was “really, really surreal,” but the 30-year-old singer admitted Chicago was not the piano rock band’s first choice.

Before Jenni “JWOWW” Farley appeared at K-Mart in Avondale Saturday afternoon to promote her JWOWW by Jenni Farley fragrance, the “Jersey Shore” star known for her mean right hook made a stop at Fuga Centro Salon on South Michigan Avenue.

The key to connecting with a Starbucks customer in 60 seconds or less — according to Isaac Slade, lead singer of The Fray — is to not anger them, assure them you’re working on their order as fast as possible and find out what interests them.

Any chance Derrick Rose had of keeping a low profile at Wednesday’s Watch The Throne show went out the window when rapper Kanye West announced to the United Center audience that the NBA MVP was in attendance.

I don’t watch CBS for anything other than football and Gus Johnson’s shrieks during March Madness, but I could make an exception Tuesday night. That’s when the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show airs on CBS.

Not everyone is upset with the Detroit Lions’ Ndamukong Suh these days. The Bears’ Amobi Okoye joined Suh -- who was ejected from Thursday’s game against the Green Bay Packers for stomping on an opposing player -- during his night out in Chicago Friday.

Before teaming up with Joe Germanotta on the yet-to-open restaurant, Joanne, in New York, Table Fifty-Two chef Art Smith teamed up with Germanotta’s daughter, Stefani — a.k.a. Lady Gaga — on the ABC special “A Very Gaga Thanksgiving.”

Michael Jai White and Tasha Smith didn’t have much time to rehearse for their roles as a married couple on TBS’ upcoming dramedy “Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse” — they taped one episode per day, whereas most shows tape an episode per week — but they likely didn’t need it.

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan and comedian Jerry Seinfeld went at it during a dinner in New York a decade or so ago. Not physically — this is Seinfeld we’re talking about — but the two men did engage in a friendly debate in front of the other dinner guests at the table. The topic?

Jennifer Hudson is well aware of the rumors that she and fiancé David Otunga had broken up and was quick to address them Sunday during an interview with “Access Hollywood” on the American Music Awards red carpet.

The day after Lockport native CM Punk won the WWE Championship at the Allstate Arena in mid-July, there were photos on TMZ of Punk celebrating with the title on the streets of Chicago. Not long after that, Punk was appearing on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and getting interviewed by ESPN’s Bill Simmons.

Anthony Santos used to work out at his gym in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood relatively unrecognized. Other than the gym’s Latino staff members, few ever noticed the Bronx native. That changed three years ago when ads featuring Santos — aka Romeo Santos, lead singer of the internationally known bachata band Aventura — began popping up around the city promoting the group’s upcoming concerts.

The thriller “Downers Grove” – which revolves around a high school in Downers Grove, Ill. where one senior mysteriously dies at the end of each year -- was supposed to begin filming in Louisiana last spring. But here we are in November and the movie has yet to begin shooting.

“The Chicago Code” and “The Playboy Club” didn’t make it to a second season, but fellow Chicago-based TV series “Shameless” did. And it has been filming exterior scenes for Season 2 — which premieres on Showtime Jan. 8 — in Chicago since Nov. 7.

The bad news for the cast of “Twilight” is that filming of the series has wrapped, and the actors likely will never reprise their most famous roles to date. The good news? They no longer have to wear those ridiculous wigs again.

You already know how “Twilight” has changed the lives of stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, who can thank the vampire franchise for their A-list status and lack of private lives. But what sort of impact have the films had on its supporting cast and the artists on the films’ soundtracks — other than earn them thousands of extra Twitter followers?

The Bears’ Devin Hester estimates he plays video games just about every day. He said it’s due in part to the free time he has and the fact that he feels he can’t go out in public much. His wife doesn’t mind — after all, it means he’s home — except when they have family over.

Kal Penn and John Cho aren't all that much like their stoner characters in the “Harold & Kumar” franchise, but you wouldn't know it by the way the two co-stars bantered back and forth about their favorite Christmas songs at the Park Hyatt Chicago hotel last month.

Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and Cubs owners Tom and Todd Ricketts watched Game 6 of the World Series at The Fifty/50 in Ukrainian Village Thursday. Coincidentally, I was there as well and got to see Theo-madness first hand.

Shaquille O’Neal -- a Bull? It never came close, according to the future NBA Hall of Famer. But O’Neal, who played for six teams before announcing his retirement in June, said the Bulls did reach out to him not that long ago.

It's not every day you see a guy with a huge tattoo on his face. On TV? Maybe (thank you, Mike Tyson and Gucci Mane). But not right in front of you. And yet, there was this imposing tatted up figure in front of me while I was out for a jog the other day.

When the Cubs’ Ryan Dempster hosts his annual Casino Night fundraiser, he and his teammates come decked out in white tuxedos with black bow ties. When fellow Cub Randy Wells hosted his benefit concert with Texas Red Dirt singer Stoney LaRue at Joe’s Bar Friday, a teammate would be considered dressed up if he was wearing a collar.

Pete Wentz didn't seem to mind opening for rapper Travie McCoy at Metro last Friday. Sure, Wentz is used to headlining larger venues with Fall Out Boy, but he's not in Fall Out Boy anymore (at least not at the moment). He's now in Black Cards — the band he started last year with female vocalist Bebe Rexha.

Rather than watch the Luvabulls perform during a break in the action at Saturday’s Bulls-Boston Celtics game, one twenty-something Celtics fan sitting front row at the United Center turned around and pointed his camera at Ron Howard, who was sitting two rows behind him.

It was a little more than a year ago that Steven Yeun was preparing to leave his gig at the Second City and the apartment he shared with his brother in Lincoln Square for Hollywood. Yeun told his friends and family about his plans immediately to prevent himself from backing out on them.

When picking a seat at a table at the Fireplace Inn (1448 N. Wells St.) on Thursday, Jeffrey Ross -- the insult comic with a knack for pointing out the worst in people -- chose the chair facing the entrance.

Kathy Griffin doesn’t make fun of audience members during her shows like fellow comedians Jeffrey Ross and Lisa Lampanelli. The self-proclaimed “D-List” star feels she and the audience are “one and the same.” She is too grateful to poke fun at her fans.

I like to think I dress nice. I could be wrong, but I do make an effort to fit in at these swanky events. And yet, I couldn't help but question my style when I went to W Chicago-City Center Thursday for Pete Yorn's show. When I arrived, one of the PR people looked at me said "Media?"